Indiana Driver License: Credentials, Permits, Probationary Rules and Endorsements

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Credentials, Permits, Probationary Rules and Endorsements. Free, no account needed.

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1. Which feature on a credential indicates it can be used to board a domestic flight or enter a military base?

  1. A barcode on the reverse
  2. A star in the upper right corner
  3. A watermark of the state seal
  4. A vertical card orientation

Answer: B — A star in the upper right corner

A star in the upper right corner marks Real ID compliance for federal purposes like boarding flights.

2. Since what date has Indiana complied with the Real ID Act?

  1. January 1, 2020
  2. October 1, 2005
  3. July 1, 2026
  4. January 1, 2010

Answer: D — January 1, 2010

Indiana has been Real ID compliant since January 1, 2010.

3. An applicant upgrading to a Real ID-compliant card presents one utility bill showing an Indiana P.O. box as proof of residency. Is this sufficient?

  1. Yes, as long as it's less than 30 days old
  2. Yes, one document is enough regardless of address type
  3. No, three documents are required
  4. No, two residency documents are required and P.O. boxes are not accepted

Answer: D — No, two residency documents are required and P.O. boxes are not accepted

Real ID upgrades require two residency documents, and P.O. boxes are not accepted.

4. A person moves to Indiana and establishes residency. Within how many days must they obtain an Indiana license?

  1. 90 days
  2. 30 days
  3. 60 days
  4. 180 days

Answer: C — 60 days

New residents have 60 days to get an Indiana license.

5. Someone who has never held a driver's license anywhere moves to Indiana. Before getting a license, how long must they hold an Indiana permit?

  1. One year
  2. 60 days
  3. 90 days
  4. 180 days

Answer: D — 180 days

A new resident who has never been licensed anywhere must hold an Indiana permit for 180 days first.

6. A new resident's out-of-state license expired three years ago. What must they do to get an Indiana license?

  1. Pass the knowledge exam
  2. Pass only the skills exam
  3. Nothing beyond the vision screening
  4. Pass both the knowledge and skills exams

Answer: A — Pass the knowledge exam

A license expired less than five years requires only the knowledge exam (plus the standard vision screening).

7. How long is an Indiana identification card valid?

  1. Two years
  2. Four years
  3. Ten years
  4. Six years

Answer: D — Six years

An ID card is valid for six years.

8. A 15-year-old submits a Certificate of Driver Education Enrollment dated five weeks before their class begins. Does this satisfy the permit requirement?

  1. Yes, any date before the class start is acceptable
  2. Yes, since five weeks provides ample notice
  3. No, only an online theory certificate qualifies
  4. No, the certificate cannot be dated earlier than three weeks before the class starts

Answer: D — No, the certificate cannot be dated earlier than three weeks before the class starts

The certificate must be dated no earlier than three weeks before the class starts, so five weeks early does not qualify.

9. A learner's permit has been expired for 200 days. What must the holder do to get a new one?

  1. Nothing, simply renew online
  2. Wait 60 days then renew automatically
  3. Retest, since permits expired more than 180 days require retesting
  4. Retest only if under 18

Answer: C — Retest, since permits expired more than 180 days require retesting

A permit expired more than 180 days requires retesting.

10. What score must an applicant achieve on each component of the knowledge exam to pass?

  1. 80 percent
  2. 90 percent
  3. 75 percent
  4. 70 percent

Answer: A — 80 percent

An 80 percent score is required on each of the sign and traffic components.

11. How soon before a branch closes must you arrive to take the knowledge exam?

  1. At least 30 minutes before closing
  2. At least 15 minutes before closing
  3. At least one hour before closing
  4. At least 45 minutes before closing

Answer: A — At least 30 minutes before closing

The knowledge exam section says to arrive at least 30 minutes before the branch closes.

12. A licensed driver training school's course consists of how many hours of theory and behind-the-wheel instruction before a student may take the skills exam through the school?

  1. 20 hours of theory and ten hours behind the wheel
  2. 30 hours of theory and 10 hours behind the wheel
  3. 50 hours of theory and six hours behind the wheel
  4. 30 hours of theory and six hours behind the wheel

Answer: D — 30 hours of theory and six hours behind the wheel

The school course is 30 hours of theory and six hours behind the wheel.

13. How far in advance can a driving skills exam at a BMV branch be scheduled, and how close to the date at minimum?

  1. No more than three weeks ahead and no less than 24 business hours ahead
  2. No more than three weeks ahead and no less than 48 business hours ahead
  3. No more than two weeks ahead and no less than 72 hours ahead
  4. No more than one month ahead and no less than 24 hours ahead

Answer: B — No more than three weeks ahead and no less than 48 business hours ahead

Branch exams are scheduled no more than three weeks ahead and no less than 48 business hours ahead.

14. During a skills exam, a driver crosses a solid yellow line to pass another vehicle. What is the result?

  1. A warning only, no penalty
  2. Automatic failure
  3. A score deduction but not automatic failure
  4. Automatic failure only if it causes a crash

Answer: B — Automatic failure

Passing in a no-passing zone or crossing a solid yellow line is an automatic failure.

15. After failing the driving skills exam once, how long must you wait before retesting?

  1. Two months
  2. Seven days
  3. Next business day
  4. 30 days

Answer: B — Seven days

After failing, wait seven days; a third failure on a permit brings a two-month wait instead.

16. For an applicant under 18, in what order may adults sign the sworn statement of financial liability?

  1. The custodial parent or their designee first, then the noncustodial parent or designee, then custodial guardian, then any willing adult
  2. Whichever parent has physical custody at the time, with no designee option
  3. Any willing adult may sign regardless of parental availability
  4. The noncustodial parent always signs first

Answer: A — The custodial parent or their designee first, then the noncustodial parent or designee, then custodial guardian, then any willing adult

The order is custodial parent or designee, then noncustodial parent or designee, then custodial guardian, then any willing adult.

17. What is the minimum age for an Indiana driver's license with, and without, a BMV-licensed driver education program?

  1. 15 years and 6 months with the program, 16 without
  2. 16 with the program, 18 without
  3. 16 with the program, 16 years and 270 days without
  4. 16 with the program, 17 without

Answer: C — 16 with the program, 16 years and 270 days without

The license age is 16 with a BMV-licensed driver education program, or 16 years and 270 days without one.

18. How many total hours of supervised practice must be logged before getting a license, and how many of those at night?

  1. 50 hours total, 10 at night
  2. 40 hours total, 10 at night
  3. 50 hours total, 20 at night
  4. 30 hours total, 5 at night

Answer: A — 50 hours total, 10 at night

Every applicant logs 50 hours of supervised practice, 10 of them at night.

19. A driver renews their license at age 80. How long will it be valid?

  1. Six years
  2. Two years
  3. Four years
  4. Three years

Answer: D — Three years

Licenses are valid three years for drivers 75 through 84.

20. A 17-year-old with a probationary license, 90 days after getting it, wants to drive with a friend the same age in the car. Who must also be present?

  1. A licensed driver 25 or older, a licensed spouse 21 or older, or a driving instructor in the front passenger seat
  2. No one, friends are always allowed
  3. Only a parent, regardless of age
  4. Any licensed driver of any age

Answer: A — A licensed driver 25 or older, a licensed spouse 21 or older, or a driving instructor in the front passenger seat

During the first 180 days, non-family passengers require a 25-or-older licensed driver, a 21-or-older spouse, or an instructor in the front seat.

21. A probationary license holder, within the first 180 days of holding it, wants to drive alone at 11 p.m. Is this allowed?

  1. Yes, as long as it's a weekend
  2. No, driving is barred between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. during this period
  3. No, only barred between midnight and 5 a.m.
  4. Yes, the curfew doesn't start until after 180 days

Answer: B — No, driving is barred between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. during this period

For the first 180 days, driving between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. is barred.

22. A 17-year-old probationary driver, more than 180 days after licensing, wants to drive alone at 2 a.m. Saturday, not for work, school or a religious event. Is this allowed?

  1. No, the curfew is 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. every night after 180 days
  2. No, driving alone between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday is barred
  3. Yes, weekends have no curfew after 180 days
  4. Yes, since the first-180-day restriction no longer applies

Answer: B — No, driving alone between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday is barred

After 180 days and until 18, driving is barred between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, without a qualifying exception.

23. Within how many calendar days of issuance is a credential mailed to the address on file?

  1. 30 calendar days
  2. 21 calendar days
  3. 7 calendar days
  4. 14 calendar days

Answer: D — 14 calendar days

Credentials are mailed within 14 calendar days.

24. A motorcycle learner's permit holder wants to ride with a passenger an hour after sunset. Is this permitted?

  1. Yes, passengers and nighttime riding are both allowed after 90 days
  2. No, permit holders may not carry passengers and may ride only between half an hour before sunrise and half an hour after sunset
  3. No passengers ever, but riding at night is fine
  4. Yes, as long as the passenger wears a helmet

Answer: B — No, permit holders may not carry passengers and may ride only between half an hour before sunrise and half an hour after sunset

A motorcycle learner's permit allows riding only without passengers, and only from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.

25. What is the maximum speed at which a motor driven cycle may be operated?

  1. 25 mph
  2. 55 mph
  3. 45 mph
  4. 35 mph

Answer: D — 35 mph

Motor driven cycles may go no faster than 35 mph.

26. A driver operates a vehicle weighing 20,000 pounds to haul property for hire. What endorsement, short of a CDL, covers this?

  1. A CDL is always required regardless of weight
  2. A motorcycle endorsement plus a for-hire designation
  3. No endorsement is needed under 26,000 pounds
  4. A for-hire endorsement, which covers vehicles from 16,000 to 26,000 pounds

Answer: D — A for-hire endorsement, which covers vehicles from 16,000 to 26,000 pounds

The for-hire endorsement covers vehicles of 16,000 to 26,000 pounds hauling property for hire.

27. An 18-year-old has declared organ donor status on their credential. Can their family override this declaration after the person's death?

  1. No, a declaration made at 18 or older cannot be overridden by family
  2. Only a spouse can override it
  3. Yes, immediate family can always override it
  4. Yes, if made before age 21

Answer: A — No, a declaration made at 18 or older cannot be overridden by family

A donor declaration made at 18 or older cannot be overridden by family.

28. What does a person need in order to operate a watercraft with a 15-horsepower motor?

  1. A valid driver's license, or at 15 an approved boater education course
  2. Nothing; watercraft under 25 horsepower are exempt
  3. A watercraft endorsement added to an Indiana driver's license
  4. An approved boater education course at any age, with no license needed

Answer: A — A valid driver's license, or at 15 an approved boater education course

Over 10 horsepower requires a valid driver's license, or at 15 an approved boater education course; under 15 you may not operate one.

29. A license has been expired for six years. What must the holder do to renew?

  1. Nothing beyond paying the penalty
  2. Pay the penalty and pass the knowledge exam and vision screening, with no skills exam needed
  3. Only pass the vision screening
  4. Pay the penalty and pass the knowledge exam, vision screening, and skills exam

Answer: D — Pay the penalty and pass the knowledge exam, vision screening, and skills exam

Expiration of five years or more adds the skills exam on top of the penalty, knowledge exam, and vision screening.

30. Which male applicants may authorize Selective Service registration during a credential transaction?

  1. Those under 21
  2. Those under 26
  3. Those under 25
  4. Those 18 through 30

Answer: B — Those under 26

Male applicants under 26 may authorize Selective Service registration.

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